3) Successfully compete for IMLS funding for the African American Museums and Historic Sites Network

Needs

Monetary Support

The Annual Fund provides unrestricted funds critical to the success of all VFH programs. Our goal for the 2013 fiscal year is $150,000.

The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities offers residential fellowships to scholars and writers in the humanities. $15,000 provides funding for a scholar-in-residence for one semester. Our annual operational need is $185,000.

With Good Reason is a weekly public radio show featuring scholars in lively conversation about their work in literature, science, history, politics and the arts. The show features scholars from all of Virginia’s public Universities and airs on public radio stations throughout the Commonwealth and in Washington, DC. $15,000 provides an underwriting sponsorship for a year. $60,000 offsets annual operating costs.

The goal of the African American Program is to create and then disseminate the most layered and diverse “portrait” of the Virginia narrative that we can in the hope that this offering adds depth, context, texture and truth to our shared sense of history and living in the Commonwealth. $10,000 funds a Griot Apprenticeship for a period of 12 months. Annual operational needs are $75,000.

The Virginia Folklife Program is dedicated to the documentation, presentation, and support of Virginia’s rich cultural heritage. $10,000 provides funding for a Master and Apprentice pair for a period of 9 months. Our annual operational needs are $120,000.

Volunteers

The VFH is in need of volunteers to staff the Virginia Folklife stage at the annual Richmond Folk Fest. There are many jobs available and the performances are amazing!

Background

Since its founding in 1974, the VFH has produced more than 40,000 humanities programs serving communities large and small throughout Virginia, the nation, and the world. In addition to Foundation-directed programs including festivals, digital initiatives, conferences, teacher institutes, and public radio programs, the VFH has contributed to more than 2,500 grant projects and more than 300 individual and collaborative fellowships.